The current state of the "MMORPG" FFXIV is unsustainable. Here's why

[KageTokage]

I do feel like they're leaning way too hard into following the "safe" content cycle they've had since HW.

It's nice that they made an attempt at introducing new types of content through Island Sanctuary and variant/criterion dungeons, but both still lack the longevity the exploratory zones had.

[magitekLuna]

I do feel like they're leaning way too hard into following the "safe" content cycle they've had since HW.

It's nice that they made an attempt at introducing new types of content through Island Sanctuary and variant/criterion dungeons, but both still lack the longevity the exploratory zones had.

variant/criterion dungeons in them self are a really well made content. its fun to do but then what? where the rewards?
as for Island Sanctuary i cant think of any one that for really think this is content as a sane person . Island Sanctuary is a BIG SLAP from yoshi to the players. people asking for years for instant housing . yoshi Sayed there no way to do it as limitations and such. then he do Island Sanctuary that is WAY bigger that instant housing ever be, but there nothing what so ever to do there.

[EliaStormblade]

I do feel like they're leaning way too hard into following the "safe" content cycle they've had since HW.

It's nice that they made an attempt at introducing new types of content through Island Sanctuary and variant/criterion dungeons, but both still lack the longevity the exploratory zones had.

My hypothesis on the former is that what we're seeing is currently more groundwork for it than the actual content for it. Anyway, call me out for coping there if you want, but I just don't think the current state of Island Sanctuary shows the breadth of what it is supposed to be. At least going by the work put into it on a systems/coding level.

As for variants/criterions, myeah, I guess. I don't think there's a lot wrong with one-and-done content, but I do think criterion might have missed the mark they intended it to hit. For one, the base version of criterion (not savage) should've been around extreme trial level whereas a lot of people said it felt more like early to mid-savage. Also more (cosmetic) rewards. Variant, idk. It did... a thing? I did all the variant routes, but to me it didn't really sell the fantasy they were going for. This whole notion of different paths kind of just fizzled for me. Maybe it would be better if variant became more like a mini-outdoor zone with different activities and stuff to earn and then criterion was the instanced dungeon portion of it.